What made Odysseus so special?

Question

why isn't odysseus cosidered a "normal" greek hero?

Answer 1

He was just a guy. No magic powers, no divine parents, he didn't have a deity in love with him, he didn't even *meet* any gods, as far as I know. But he was the one who came back after all his troubles--he listened to the Sirens, he sailed past Scylla and Charybdis, he was the only guy who didn't get turned into a pig by Circe.

His wife was happy to see him (as opposed to Menelaus, who got butchered in the bathtub by Klytemnestra), his son didn't try to murder him, and his dog waited that whole time to see him return. Very touching. It's interesting that he just did what an ordinary guy would do--I mean, he was clever and a good warrior and all, but he wasn't anything special. He gives hope to ordinary guys everywhere--you don't have to have the favor of the gods to win a battle.

But really, it's probably a better idea *not* to be noticed by the gods, or have any connection to them. Achilles: dipped in the River Styx...arrow to the heel. Dead. Herakles: half-divine, went crazy, killed his wife. Had to do twelve labors. Hyacinth: loved by, Zeus? I think it was Zeus. Maybe Hermes. Anyway, he got clocked in the head with a discus. Dead. But he got a flower named after himself. Endymion: loved by Selene, put into eternal sleep. Metis: eaten. Dead? I guess. Leda: stuck in a box and thrown in the ocean. Arachne: turned into a spider. Semele: burnt up by a lightning bolt.

See a trend? If a god pays attention to you, you have a limited amount of time before you meet an untimely (and usually weird) demise. So fly under the radar, like Odysseus.

Answer 2

Well, I don't think he had an special powers like Hercules who was the son of Zeus. Odyessus was just a common man, but a mighty warrior. He was a skilled archer though. At the end of the Odyssey, he was the only one who was able to perform Penelope's challenge which was to shoot an arrow straight through the holes of 12 perfectly aligned axe heads before he killed all of her suitors.

Answer 3

are u kidding ofcourse he was special.who acn endure all this suffering he was apart from his beloved wife and son and his home for over than 20 years.he achieved victory in war but never felt this glory of the victory with his family.who would challenge god of seaif not someone special.and who would also torture the son of this god if not someone special knowing that he wasn't like hercules who had semi-powers of gods.he only depended on his wit and courage.and above all who would be apart from his wife for more than 20 years and still love her although that he made some adulterous relations but he favoured his wife.he also saved his wife from marryingand also saved his son and above all is kingdom.he never surroundered or went back.he is great in every way.

Answer 4

He was 1st Hero to stand on his own and not rely on the Gods. It is what led to downfall and rise again